Refrigerator cabinet construction



April 24, 1951 1 .1. AMORE REFRIGERATOR CABINET CUNSTRUCTION Filed sept. 4, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l NVENTOR. 50 .IH/UORE April 24, E951 L.. J. AMORE 2954993@ REFRIGERATOR CABINET CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 4, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1.60 J. HmoRa MLQCM Patented Apr. 24, 1951 REFRIGERATOR CABINET CONSTRUCTION Leo J. Amore, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Philco Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 4, 1946, Serial No. 694,778

This invention relates to refrigerator cabinets and, more particularly, to the construction and arrangement of the shelving and breaker-strip trim thereof.

It is the primary object of the invention to provide new and improved refrigerator cabinet construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide refrigerator cabinet construction which aifords maximum flexibility of shelf arrangement.

A further object of the invention is the provision, in refrigerator cabinet construction, of a novel breaker-strip trim-member around the throat of the food storage compartment liner.

Still further, it is an Object of the invention to provide a breaker-strip trim-member which will permit the use of a flat breaker-strip between the peripheries of the outer shell and inner liner while still achieving the effect of a curved throat contour, blending from the plane of the breaker-strip into the plane of the liner walls.

More specifically it is an object of the invention to utilize the breaker-strip trim to .assist in adjustably supporting shelves within thecabinet.

In accordance with a feature of the invention, shelves may be adjustably supported within a refrigerator cabinet, without the necessity of aperturing the side walls of the inner liner.

With the foregoing objects and vadvantages in mind, a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective View of a refrigerator cabinet embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, and illustrating an additional feature of the invention;

Figures 3, Il, 5, and 6 are detail views of various elements of the invention; and

Figures 7 and 8 are diagrammatic views showing further the flexibility of shelf arrangement afforded by the invention.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings, and particularly t Figure 1 thereof, the numeral if? designates a refrigerator cabinet comprising an open front outer shell H, and an open front inner liner the latter providing the food storage compartment within the cabinet. The open fronts of the shell and the liner are in substantially the same plane, as shown fragmentarily in Figure 4, and provide the cabinet with a front access opening. A door (not shown) is, of course, employed and closes the opening in a substantially airtight manner.

Any suitable insulating material I3 (see Figures Claims. (Cl. S12-214) within the upper part of the compartmet, and provides the means by which the compartment is cooled.

As is clearly shown in Figure 4, `and in accordance with common practice, the marginal portion around the front opening of the outer shell is formed with inwardly turned fianging l5 providing a recess adapted to receive one edge of a flat breaker-strip I6. This breaker-strip is constructed of any suitable and preferably hard insulating material, and is positioned angularly with respect to the walls of said compartment across the space between the marginal portions of the liner and shell, to close the gap therebetween in a manner preventing the flow of heat from one to the other, and forming therewith the door jamb of the cabinet.

Breaker-strip I6 may be formed in a single flat piece framing the compartment opening, but, for convenience in assembly, is preferably composed of four separate pieces, including two side pieces i1 and I8, and top and bottom pieces ISand 20, respectively. The inner edge of the breakerstrip restsv against a flange 2l formed on the marginal edge of the liner, and is clamped in this position by a breaker-strip trim member 22. The strip or member 22 is secured, as by screws 23 (Figures 3 and 4), over a pocket 24 extending peripherally about the liner and formed by outwardly and forwardly bent liner portions 25 and 2 6, respectively.

As seen more clearly in Figures 1 and 2, trim strips 2'! and 28 are positioned on opposite sides of the liner with their upper endsy terminating at the bottom edge of evaporator section i4, which latter substantially fills the space at the top of the liner and obviates the necessity of continuing the strips past that point. It will be understood, that if desired, the strip may, in cases where the evaporator is not so constructed, extend around the whole marginal portion of the liner.

As in the case of the breaker-strip, the trimstrip may also be constructed in a single piece,`

but it has been found preferable to form it ci parallel side pieces 2l and 28, and a bottom piece 29 connecting the lower ends of said side pieces, as is indicated by the numeral 3U in Figures 1 and 2.

Each trim strip is preferably made of sheet metal, formed arcuately and subtending an angle of substantially to blend the plane of the flat breaker-strips smoothly into the plane of the liner walls, and so achieve the effect of a curved throat contour extending around the marginal portion of the food compartment.

Also, in further accordance with the present invention, side pieces 2l and 28 are each provided with a plurality of indentations, or open front pockets 3| spaced preferably at regular intervalsy space between the side Walls of the compartmentv and out of the plane of said side Walls.

While pockets 3| may be 'formedonthe-strips in any convenient manner, it has been found best.

to form them as an integralpart of the stripstby pressing, or drawing the surface metal of the.

strips inwardly. The pocket, thus formed, comprises vertical side walls 33 and 34, andtop and bottom walls 35 and 36 respectively.. VerticalA walls 3 and 34 are angled in conformity with liner portions 25 and 26, as clearly shown in Figure'S., thusassuringproper positioning of the strip'in pocket'24 The strip is held in place by the screws 23, the shanks of which pass through apertures inwalls34 of the strip pockets and are threadedly'engaged with Wall 26 of liner-pocket 24.' It can be seen thatv the inner edge of breaker-strip I''is clamped between liner ange 2 and the"outer edgeof trim-strip 22, as indicatedy at 3B', thus rmly positioning said breaker strip across'thespace between the outer shell and the liner.

It' is common to coat refrigerator inner liners with` white porcelain, or some similar vitreous enamel, said coating being wiped away from 'the marginal portion of the liner before firing thus' leaving an edging of the usual black base. enamel exposed. It is an additional feature of the present invention that this black edging, which extends inwardly of the marginal flange 2| andpartiallyover wall 26, is concealed by the f trim-strip. which covers this area.

From the foregoingv description it is clearly evident that this invention permits theuse of' a atbreaker-strip. while still providing a smooth curvedthroat contour about the food compartment, and that the construction is additionally advantageous inthat it conceals the black edging commonly provided around the marginalportion of theliner, thus enhancing the general appearance of the cabinet. Furthermore, the strip aids in positioning the breaker-strip over the gap betweenthe marginal portions of the outer shell and inner liner.

In accordance with another aspect. of .the invention, and with particular reference to Figure 1.',it will be noted that the aforesaid pockets 3|, which are spaced in the same horizontal plane, are adapted to support oppositely extended ends of forward cross rails 4t of shelves 4|. While eachpair of oppositely arrangedY pockets may serve this function, only three shelves have been illustrated, since the primary purpose of` the construction is to increase the flexibility of shelf arrangement. For the purposes of the present invention, the rear crossrails 42 of the shelves may be supported in any convenient manner and, as shown, are supported and releasably retainedvby upwardly hooked members 43 carried by a pair of vertically positioned strips 44suitably secured tothe rear wallY of the inner liner.

Each strip 44 is provided along its lengthwith a plurality of such hooks, spaced vertically at intervals.corresponding tothose between pockets 3.-`|and,`.each is positioned to lie in the same horizontalr plane as a corresponding pair of said pockets.

To position a shelf within. the cabinet, it is slid into the compartment in. a. substantially horizontal position until rear cross rail 42 is .lust above a pair of hooked members 43, andthe ends ItV will be noted of front cross rail 4D are received within pockets 3|, the. rear rail is then dropped behind the hooked members' 43. Tov remove aa shelf, the above procedure is reversed.

With reference to Figures l, 3, 4 and 7, and from the foregoing description, it can readily be seenthat'the r'invention affords an extremely flexibleshelf arrangement for the food storage compartmentofa refrigerator cabinet. For example, and as seen in Figure l, the shelves may be evenly spaced from each other, leaving a substantially larger space over the top shelf, or, as seen-in-Fgure 7, may be arranged in a manner providing a larger space-in an intermediate portion of the compartment.. Then too, different shelf constructionsl may beused to provide further iiexbility. For example, a crisper pan 46 may be suspended from one shelf and shifted toY different parts of the compartment, as desired.

Now with reference to Figures 2, 5, 6 andv 8, still another feature of the invention will be described; In accordance with this feature a post 50 is providedmidway between, and in the plane of trimstrips 21 and 28. If desired, the post may be of solid construction, but as clearly shown in Figures 5 and 6, is preferablly of sheet metal formed in a semi-oval shape (Figure 6) with inturned flanges 5| along its rear edges, and a plurality of transverse slits or open front pockets 52 in the curved front portion thereof. Pockets 52 are space-d at intervals corresponding to the spacing of trim-strippock-ets 3|, and lie in the same horizontal planes. A channel-shaped member 53, having outwardly extending anges 54 to which flanges 5| are attached, forms the back wall of the post, and also serves to reinforce it against buckling4 under the pressure of loaded shelves supported thereby.

With particular reference to Figure 5, it will be noted that the dat bottom Wall 55 of'post 50 carries' a stud 56; which extends downwardly and snuglythrough an opening 51 ink a platform 58 formed in4 the' center of, and integral with bottom portion 29 Oftrim-strip 22. Stud 56-and opening 5l' may be of any desired complementary configuration, such as round, oval, or square, and it should be understood that this particular manner of releasably connecting the post and the strip is illustrativeV of the preferred form only, and that such may be accomplished in other ways.

The upper end 59 ofl channel member 53 is bent forwardly beneath top Wall 6D of the post, thence upwardly through said top wall to thus provide a flatV sided stud 6| which fits snugly within a forwardly extending wire loop 62 provided at the center of cross rail 63 of top shelf 64, thus releasably retaining the post securely in its vertical position, and against rotative movements.

Positioning of the top shelf Within the food storage space is accomplished in the manner already described in connection With shelves 42 in Figure 1, except thatY loop 62 is engaged over stud 6| just prior to the engagement of the ends ofthe front cross rail within trim-strip pocket 3|.

Thus it is evident that the apparatus of the invention is also adapted to accommodate shelves of only half width. WhenA the vertical rail 50 is used, one end of the, front cross rail of each shelf is received in one of the trim-strip pockets 3`|,4 and' the other end occupies half the width of` a post pocket 52, the` back rail being supported' substantially atA its; center by4 the, hookedv mem,- ber 43', it being understood' that strips 44 are positioned on the back liner wall in planes lying substantially midway between post 5@ and each side wall.

The shelf arrangements shown in Figures 2 and 8 illustrate two of the many additional variations afforded by the use of the center post and half shelves. For example, the crisper pans attached to half shelves 65 and t@ may be arranged sideby-side, as shown in Figure 2, or in stacked relation as shown in Figure 8, with the other half-shelves in any of the many available positions aiforded by the plurality of supporting means.

I claim:

1. In a refrigerator cabinet, an open front outer shell, an open front inner `liner having wall portions deiining a storage compartment, a door spanning the width of said storage compartment and affording access thereto, said liner being positioned within said shell in spaced relation therewith so that the forward marginal edge portions of said shell and liner lie in confronting spaced relation, breaker-strip means extending peripherally about said edge portions and closing the space between said shell and liner and being disposed at the forward edge of the storage compartment and outwardly of the planes of the compartment-defining wall portions, breakerstrip trim positioned along the juncture of said breaker-strip means and liner and extending around a substantial portion of the open front of said cabinet, a vertically extending post dividing the front opening of the liner into separate areas and lying substantially in the plane of said trim, and means on said trim and said post cooperable adjustably to support forward edge portions of cabinet shelves.

2. A construction in accordance with claim l, and further characterized in that said post is removably mounted upon said cabinet, whereby to provide support for shelves of partial width, when the post is in place, and to accommodate shelves of full width when the post is removed.

3. In a refrigerator cabinet including an open front outer shell and an open front inner liner providing a storage compartment having a generally rectangular vertically extending front opening, said liner being positioned within said shell in spaced relation therewith so that the forward marginal edge portions of said shell and liner lie in confronting spaced relation; breakerstrip means extending peripherally about said edge portions and closing the space between said shell and liner, ,breaker-strip trim having portions extending horizontally along the lower portion of the compartment opening and vertically along the side portions thereof, a vertically extending post dividing the compartment opening into separate areas and lying generally in the plane of said trim, the lower end of said post being releasably engaged with the horizontally extending portion of said trim, first support means carried by said post, second support means carried by the vertically extending portions of said trim, said first and second support means being cooperable to support forward portions of cabinet shelving, and means releasably engaging an upper portion of said post tol effect rigid support of the same, said last-mentioned means comsaid upper portion of said post whereby to effect such releasable engagement and having a forward corner portion supported by the said support means carried by said trim.

4. In a refrigerator cabinet, an open front outer shell, an open front inner liner having wall portions defining a storage compartment with a forwardly presented access opening, said liner being positioned in said shell in spaced relation therewith so that the forward marginal edge portions of said shell and liner lie in spaced relation at the forward portion of the cabinet, and striplike framing means including a plurality of vertically spaced indentations comprised of pockets formed from material of said framing means and extending inwardly toward the space between said outer shell and inner liner, said strip-like framing means bridging the gap between the forward marginal edge portions of said shell and liner and having a portion contoured rearwardly toward the compartment and forming the throat of said cabinet opening, said pockets being disposed adjacent the said throat of said cabinet opening and constituting shelf-supporting reesses facing across the said cabinet opening and also being open for access in a direction substantially normal to the plane of the cabinet opening.

5. In a refrigerator cabinet, an open front outer shell, an open front inner liner having wall portions defining a storage compartment with a forwardly presented access opening, said liner being positioned within said shell in spaced relation therewith so that the forward marginal edge portions of said shell and liner iie in spaced relation at the forward portion of the cabinet, strip-like framing means including a plurality of vertically spaced indentations comprised of pockets formed from material of said framing means and extending inwardly toward the space between said outer shell and inner liner, said strip-like framing means bridging the gap between the forward marginal edge portions of said shell and liner and having an arcuate portion contoured rearwardly toward the compartment and forming the throat of said cabinet opening, said pockets being disposed in said arcuate rearwardly contoured portion and constituting shelfsupporting recesses facing across the said cabinet opening and also being open for access in a direction substantially normal to the plane of the cabinet opening, and shelves disposed within said compartment, said shelves having lateral extensions supported within said recesses.

LEO J. AMORE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 721,404 Wege Feb. 24, 1903 1,784,843 Kuclrel Feb. 25, 1930 2,299,655 Reeves Oct. 20, 1942 2,317,232 Swedman Apr. 20, 1943 2,321,865 Schweller June l5, i943 2,427,767 Drake Sept. 23, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date 23,()63 Great Britain A. D. 1912 

